Sound-producing instrument



Nov. 17, 1925. 1,562,103 y F. B. LITTLE S OUND PRODUCING INSTRUMENTFiled May 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l @Z0 xr we' @y /7./%W fz@ Nov. 17,1925.

F. B. LITTLE SOUND PRODUCING INSTRUMENT Filed May 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Patented uw. -17, i925.4

UNITED STATES PATENT oF'rlcE.

FREDERICK B. LITTLE, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO J'. C. DEAGAN,IiNC., 0F

" CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINCIS.

soUNJJ-PnonUoINe 'INsrRUMEn-T.

Abplicaubn mea my 4, 1925. serial No. 27,769.

To all whom zt may concern.'

Be it known thatl I, FREDERICK B.LITTLE, av citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and the State ofIllinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inSound-Producing Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear,concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to sound reducing or musical instruments and has orits object the provision of means for damping thelsound being producedby one or Ymore sound producing members when another sound producingmember or members are brought into action, whereby undesirableintermingling of the sounds produced by the various sound producingmembers of a musical instrument may be avoided.

I have embodied my invention in a set of chimes though the invention isnot to be limited to any particular form of sound producing instrument.In this embodiment of my invention I employ sound dampers that normallyengage the bottom ends of upright suspended sound producing bars,normally to prevent these bars from vibrating. I also employ mechanismfor setting these bars into vibration inclusive f hammers arranged tostrike the bars at suitable places to set them properly into vibration.Keys control the action of the hammer mechanism, each key serving, whenoperated to set the corresponding bar into vibration, to apply thedamper to a previously struck bar, so that the bar last to be struckwill be the only one to vibrate. The hammer striking mechanis-m includesoperating electromagnets or solenoids governed by the corresponding keysand the dampers are also governed by thesekcys, the arrangement beingsuch that cach key is lnot capable of applying the damper to the soundproducing bar individual thereto, but is capable of applying the damperpertaining to each other bar. Normally the dampers are all applied tothe sound producing bars and are withdrawn by the keys individual tothese bars, each damper, as stated, being applicable to its bar upon theoperation of the key pertaining to anyy sired to have a mingling ofsounds produced by a number of bars.

The invention will be more fully explained in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic viewillustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is asectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3, showing the preferred formof Vmechanical construction; Fig. 3 is a' front view of the structureillustrated in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view, taken partially insection, on line 4-4 of Fig. 5, illustrating the damping mechanism; andFig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5--5 of Fig. 4 with the lower portionof a sounding bar also shown.

Theinstrument illustrated is inclusive of a plurality of uprightsounding bars of which bars 1 and 2 are illustrated, these barsproducing, when struck, or otherwise set into vibration, different tonesin the musical scale. L

Such bars are employed in chimes or other musical instruments. The bars1 and 2 are respectively provided With sound dampers 3 and 4 which floatupon upright coiled springs 5,6, respectively,thesespringsnormallypressing the sound dampers against the bottoms ofthe bars. The sound dampers 3 and 4 are desir-ably iron armaturescarrying sound damping cushions 7 and 8 preferably of felt, directlyengaging the bottom ends of the sound producing bars. These armaturesare rincluded in electromagnets having energizing coils 9 and 10,respectively, pertaining to the armatures 3 and 4. The bars 1 and 2 areset in vibration in any preferred way. I have illustrated the bars asbeing provided with hammers 11 and 11l respectively, which arerespectively applied to the bars by means of the striking solenoids orelectromagnets 13, 13 and which are retracted from the bars they havestruck by means of the withdrawing solenoids or magnets 15 and 15.

The manually operated keys 17 and 18 i serve, through instrumentalitiesto be described, to operate the hammers 11 and 12 respectively, otherkeys for controlling the hammers V'of other sounding bars, notillustrated, being included in the same bank with keys 17 and 18, one ofthese other keys being illustrated at 19.

The apparatus whereby the key .17 has control over the hammer 11 will bedescribed, it being understood that the key 18 has control Vover thehammer 11' 1n a similar manner, the same also bein true ofl theremaining keys, not shown, with respect to the sounding bars to whichtheyare individual. When the key 17 is depressed a circuit isestablished which may be traced from the positive pole of the generator2() through the positive bus wire 21, the magnet or solenoid winding 22,the key contacts 23, 24, of key 17, the negative bus wire` to thenegative'pole of the generator 20. The soleno1d 22, when energized,lifts its core 26 to bring the metallic switch block 27 mto engagementwith the two spring contacts 28 and 29. When these spring contacts 28and 29 are electrically@ connected by the switch block 27, anothercircuit is established which may be traced from the positive pole of thegenerator 20 through the bus wire 21, spring'contact 28, switch block27, spring contact 29, the relay 30, the switch contacts 31 and 32, thenegative bus wire 25l to the negative pole of the generator. When therelay is energized circuit is established which may be traced from thepositive pole of the generator 20 through Cil the bus wire 21, thestriking Winding 13, contacts 33 and 34 of the armature switch of relay30, the negative bus wire 25 to the negative pole of the generator. Theenergized solenoid winding 13 draws the solenoid core 35 forcibly towardthe bar 1 to strike the hammer 11 against this bar. As the hammer nearsthe bar the circuit of the striking solenoid 13 is opened, the hammermoving the restof its striking distance by momentum. The opening of thecircuit of the striking solenoid is directly occasioned by theseparation of the contacts 31 and 32 that are included in series withthe relay 30, the relay 30 when deenergized opening the circuit of thestriking solenoid 13 at the switch 33, 34. These contacts 31 and 32 areseparated as a consequence of the energization of the relay 36 occurringwhen the ham` lner nears the bar, these contacts being included in thearmature switching mechanism belonging to this particular relay. Thecircuit of the relay 36 may be traced from the positive pole of thegenerator 20 through the bus wire 21, the switch elements 28, 27, 29,the winding of the relay, the switch contacts 37 and 38, (which areclosed by the pin 39 upon the hammer 11 when this pin engages the horn40 upon contact 37 as the hammer nears the bar 1 and which are separatedwhen the hammer is retracted, by the engagement of 'the pin 39 With thehorn 41 upon the contact 37), the bus wire 25 to the negative pole ofthe generator. 'When the relay 36 is thus energized the contacts 31 and32 are separated with the results described. The energized relay 36 alsocloses 34, the negative bus wire 25 to the negative pole of thegenerator.

To prevent repeated operation of the hammer while the key correspondingthereto is depressed, I employ a supplemental contact 43, in multiplewith the contact 37, which, with the contact 32 that is in multiple withthe contactv 38, are substituted for the contacts 37 and 38 andperforming the samefunetion, the contact 43 being engaged by the Contact32 when the relay 36 is energizcd whereby the striking solenoid 13 ismaintained in open circuit and the retracting solenoid 15 is maintainedin closed circuit, as long as the corresponding key 17 is closed. lVhenthis key 17 is released the corresponding solenoid 22 is deenergized tointerrupt all hammer controlling circuits.

It will be unnecessary to describe thehammer operated and hammerreleasing mechanism in connection with bar 2 as this mechanism isidentical with that shown in conneftion with bar 1, the key 18 being incontrolling relation thereto. The parts of the hammer controllingmechanism pertaining to bar 2 that are respectively similar to parts ofthe hammer controlling mechanism pertaining to bar 1 are given similarcharacters of reference with prime exponents added.

The sound dampers are normally applied to the bottom ends of the bars towhich they individually pertain. Whenever a hammer is applied to its barthe corresponding sound damper is withdrawn to permit the bar tovibrate. lVhen a ke is depressed, (the key 17 pertaining to ar 1, foreX- ample), the circuit is established through damper withdrawing magnet9, which may be traced from the positive pole of the generator 20through the bus wire 21, the conductor 44, switch contact 45, theupright metallic plunger rod 46, contact 47, contact 4S engaged bycontact 47 when the plunger rod 46 is lifted by the insulating block 53upon the solenoid core 26, the Winding of the damper releasing magnet 9,the negativo bus wire 25 to the negative pole of the generator. Thecontact 48 is pressed to a limited extent toward the contact 47 by meansof a coiled spring 49. lVhen the plunger rod 46 is lifted by thesolenoid core 26, the detent 50 falls into engagement with and beneath ashoulder 51 upon said plunger rod, whereby the contacts 47 and 48 aremaintained in engagement after `the operating key 17 isreleased, so thatthe sounding bar from which the vsound damper has thus been removed maycontinue to vibrate after the by maintaining release of said key. Thedam er releasing magnet 10 pertaining to soun ingbar 2 is released fromthis-sounding bar, when the corresponding key 18 is depressed, and ismaintained released from this bar by mechanism similar to that `whichcontrols the damper releasing magnet 9, parts of the equi mentindividual to magnet 10 that are simi ar to parts of the equipmentindividual to magnet 9 being given similar. characters of reference withprlme exponents.

The detents 50, 50', etc. that are individual v to the various damperwithdrawing magnets 9, 10, etc., are constructed. in a unitary member inthe form of an elongated bar 52, `each portion of this bar that isengageable with one of the shoulders 51, 51', constituting the detentpertaining to its associate shoulder.

It will be apparent that the sound dampers of a plurality of soundingbars which have been set into vibration may be held withdrawn from suchbars as long as the keys pertaining to these bars are depressed tomaintain the solenoid plungers 26, 26', elevated to close the variousswitch contacts governed by these plungers. It is also apparent that nokey 17, etc. can reapply the sound damper pertaining to the sounding barthat is individual to such key. The arrangement is such, however, thatwhen any key is depressed to operate the hammer and release the sounddamper pertaining to the bar to which this key is individual, that theplunger rod 46 or 46', etc., as the case may be, pertaining to thisoperated'key, will rock the bar 52 upon its pivot in a direction towithdraw the detents contained in this bar away from the shoulders 51,51', etc., whereby the damper releasing magnets pertaining to previouslyoperated keys that have been released, have their circuits opened toplace the corresponding dampers in engagement with the correspondingbars and cause these bars to cease to vibrate. The plunger Vrods 46, 46,etc., are provided with cam portions 54, 54', for the purpose of thuswithdrawing the detent bar 52 away from the switch rods 46, 46', etc.,to permit any of these rods which were previously held in circuitclosing position, by the detent bar, to drop, and permit thecorresponding sound damper or dampers to be reapplied. Thus, when anybar is caused to sound upon the depression of its corresponding key, anypreviously struck bar whose operating key has been released, will haveits sound damper reapplied so that the two bars will not sound at thesame time, it being understood that if it is desired to have a number ofbars continue to sound together', this result may be secured the keysindividual to these barsv depressed. `When a musical selection or seriesof sounds has been completed the apparatus may be restored to normalwith Ition of said sound damper to the sound all of the sound dampersapplied tothe bars individual thereto by means of the restoring magnetor solenoid 55 whoseI plunger serves to rock the detent bar 52 away fromthe switch plunger rods 46, 46', etc., in order that any plunger rod orrods still upheld by the detent bar may be released to open the circuitof the corresponding damper releasing magnet or magnets. The solenoid 55is governed by a key 56 which, when closed establishes a circuit for thesolenoid traceable from the ositive pole of the generator through the uswire 21, the magnet 55, the contacts of key 56, bus wire 25, to thenegative pole of the generator.

Changes may bemade without departing from my invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. The combination with ducing members; of a sound damper engageablewith one of said members; mechanism controlling the application of saidsound damper to the sound producing member to which it pertains; andmechanism operable upon the other sound producing member to set it intosound producing vibration and then operable upon the first aforesaidmechanism to enable thel applicaproducing member to which it pertains.

2. The combination with two sound producing members; of two sounddamper-s, each sound producing member having a sound damper individuallyengageable therewith; mechanisms, one individual to each sound damperand, in one adjustment, permitting the application of this sound damperto the sound producing member to which it pertains and, in anotheradjustment serving to withhold this sound damper; and mechanisms, oneindividual to each sound producing member for setting it into soundproducing vibration and then adjusting thel mechanism pertaining to thedamper ot this member to withhold this damper and then also adjustingthe mechanism pertaining' to the other damper to enable the applicationof this latter damper to the sound producing` member to which itpertains.

3. The combination with two sound producing members; of a sound damperentwo sound progageable with one of said members; an

electro-magnet serving. when energized, to

withhold this damper; mechanism operable upon the other sound producingmember to set it into sound producing vibration; and switchingmechanisml for rendering ineffective the circuit of said magnet andoperable for this purpose by the aforesaid mechanism when this mechanismis operated to set the sound producing member,

'to which this mechanism pertains, into vibration. Y

4. The combination with two sound` proT ies each sound producing memberhaving engageable sound damper individually therewith; twoelectro-magnets, one individual to each damper for withholding thisdamper; two electro-magnetic mechanisms, one individual to each sound'producin member to set it into sound producing v1- bration; and twoswitching mechanisms, each individual toone 'of said electro-magneticlmechanisms and pertaining to, both magnets and serving, at one time, toestablish the circuit of this electro-magnetic mechanism and the circuitof the magnet pertaining to the sound damper of the sound producingmember .having this electro-magnetic mechanism and to render the circuitof the other electro-magnet ineffective.

5. The combination with two sound producing members; of two sounddampers, each sound producing member having a sound damper individuallyengageable therewith; ltwo electro-magnets, one individual to eachdamper for withholding this damper; two mechanisms, one individual toeach sound producing member to set it into sound producing vibration;two'switching mechanisms, each individual to one of said sound producingmembers and pertaining to both magnets and serving, at one time, toestablish the circuit of the magnet pertaining to the sound damper otlthis sound producing member and to render the circuit of the.t otherelectro-magnet .ineffective; and means 'individual to each soundproducing member foroperating its sounding mechanism and the switchingmechanism ertaining to this member.

6. he combination with two sound producing members; of two sounddampers, each sound producing member havingffa sound damper individuallyengageable therewith; two electro-magnets, one individual to each damperfor withholding this damper; two mechanisms, one individual to eachsound producing member to set itinto sound producing vibration; and twoswitching mechanisms, each individual to one of said sound producingmembers and pertaining toboth magnets and serving, at one time, toestablish the circuit of the magnet pertaining to the sound damper ofthis sound producing member and to render the circuit of the otherelectro-magnet ineffective.

7. The combination with two sound producing members; of two sounddampers, each sound producing member having a soundv damper individuallyengageable therewith; two electro-magnets each sound damper having amagnet individual thereto that serves, when energized, to withhold thisdam-per; two switching devices, each magnet having a switching deviceindividual thereto for establishing its circuit; and

lconnected detentsyeac'h switching device having a detent individualthereto and serves, when energized, to withhold this damper; twoswitching devices, each magnetV having a switching device individualthereto for establishing its circuit; connected detents, each, switchingdevice having a detent individual thereto and ada ted for holdingengagement therewith when this switching device establishes the circuitof the magnet, each switching device being in releasingy engavement withsaid connected detents w en moving to magnet circuitestablishingposition; andv electro-magnetic mechanisms for setting saidsound producing members into sound producing vibrations, each of saidsound producing members havin one electro-magnetic mechanism individualthereto, and each electro-magnetic mechanism havinig the one of theaforesaid switching devices lindividual thereto that is also individualto the magnet individpual to this sound producing member and 1n circuitestablishing relation therewith when this switching device'is in circuitestablishing relation to the magnet of the damper pertaining to thissound producing member.

9. The combination with two sound producing members; of two sounddampers, each sound` producing member having a sound damper individuallyengageable therewith; two electro-magnets each sound damper and itssound roducing member having a magnet individual thereto that serves,when energized, to withholdl this' damper; two switching devices, eachmagnet having a switching device individual thereto for establishing itscircuit; connected detents, each switching device having a detentindividual thereto and adapted fior holding engagement therewith whenthis switching device establishes the circuit of the magnet, eachswitching device being in releasing engagement with said,connected-detents when moving to magnet circuit establishing position;electro-magnetic mechanisms for setting said sound producing membersinto sound producing vibrations, each of said sound producing membershaving one electro-magnetic mechanism individual thereto,

and each electro-magnetic mechanism having the one of theV aforesaidswitching` devices individual thereto that is also individual to themagnet individual to this sound producing memberand in circuitestablshing relation therewith when this switching device is in circuitestablishing relation to the ma et of the damper ertaining to this sndproducing mem er;

FREDERICK B. LITTLE.l I

